Monday 2/6/23 9pm ET: Feature LP: Oliva Newton-john – Totally Hot (1978)

Totally Hot is the tenth studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released on November 21, 1978. Commercially, it became her first top-ten album on the Billboard 200 chart since Have You Never Been Mellow (1975). Dressed on the album cover all in leather, Newton-John’s transformation was seen to mirror her character Sandy’s transformation in Grease. At the time, Totally Hot was her most successful album, and became her first album to receive a Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

“Please Don’t Keep Me Waiting” 5:51
“Dancin’ ‘Round and ‘Round” 4:02
“Talk to Me” 3:31
“Deeper Than the Night” 3:39
“Borrowed Time” 3:38
“A Little More Love” 3:29
“Never Enough” 4:13
“Totally Hot” 3:14
“Boats Against the Current” 4:00
“Gimme Some Lovin'” 4:15

Olivia Newton-John – lead and backing vocals
Jai Winding – pianos (1, 2, 5–10), horn arrangements (8), organ (10)
Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (1, 2, 7)
David Foster – pianos (3)
Tom Snow – pianos (4)
John Farrar – guitars (1-5, 7–10), backing vocals (4, 8), all album arrangements
Steve Lukather – guitars (3, 6, 10), guitar synthesizer solo (7)
David McDaniels – bass guitar (1, 5)
David Hungate – bass guitar (2–4, 6–10)
Mike Botts – drums (1, 2, 5–10)
Ed Greene – drums (3, 4)
David Kemper – drums (6, 10)
Lenny Castro – percussion (3, 6, 8, 10)
Victor Feldman – percussion (4), vibraphone (4)
Marty Grebb – alto saxophone (3, 8)
Jerry Peterson – tenor saxophone (3, 8)
Chuck Findley – trombone (3, 8)
Steve Madaio – trumpet (3, 8)
James Newton Howard – string arrangements (9)
Sid Sharp – concertmaster (9)
Sandy Ighner – backing vocals (8)
Petsye Powell – backing vocals (8, 10)
Phyllis St. James – backing vocals (8)
Pattie Brooks – backing vocals (10)
Carolyn Dennis – backing vocals (10)
Roy Galloway – backing vocals (10)
Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (10)
Patricia Henderson – backing vocals (10)
John Lehman – backing vocals (10)
Zedrich Turnbough – backing vocals (10)

Wednesday 9/14/22 1am ET: Feature Live LP: Olivia Newton-john – Love Performance (1981)

Love Performance is the first live album by Australian singer-songwriter Olivia Newton-John. It was recorded in 1976, during the Love Performance Tour, in Japan. The tour promoted her 1976 album, Don’t Stop Believin’. The album was released only in 1981 by EMI Music Japan (formerly Toshiba EMI). The vinyl LP sold 123,590 and the cassette 10,600 copies in Japan.

1. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” 3:01
2. “The Air That I Breathe” 4:42
3. “Don’t Stop Believin'” 3:39
4. “Let Me Be There” 3:14
5. “Pony Ride” 4:36
6. “Never The Less” / “As Time Goes By” 4:50
7. “Love Is Alive” 3:35
8. “New Born Babe” 3:36
9. “Something Better to Do” 3:07
10. “Jolene” 3:58
11. “Have You Never Been Mellow” 4:10
12. “If You Love Me (Let Me Know)” 3:12
13. “I Honestly Love You” 5:20

Monday 8/8/22 11pm ET: Feature LP: Olivia Newton-John – The Rumour (1988)

The Rumour is the thirteenth studio album by Olivia Newton-John on August 2, 1988. The title track was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, features backing vocals and piano by John. The album featured the singles “The Rumour”, “Can’t We Talk It Over in Bed” (later covered by Grayson Hugh) and the Australian-only promo-single “It’s Always Australia for Me”, which was released for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988. This was also her first album not produced by long-time producer, John Farrar.

The Rumour features a more mature Olivia Newton-John after the birth of her daughter Chloe Lattanzi in 1986, and has a careful production with the collaboration of some well-known songwriters, but it was a commercial and critical failure. It marks a notable decline in Newton-John’s popularity, being her lowest charting since If Not for You in 1971. It was her last studio album via Mercury.

“The Rumour” 3:55
“Love and Let Live” 3:25
“Can’t We Talk It Over in Bed” 3:53
“Let’s Talk About Tomorrow” 3:18
“It’s Not Heaven” 3:58
“Get Out” 3:55
“Big and Strong” 4:32
“Car Games” 4:45
“Walk Through Fire” 5:30
“Tutta La Vita” 3:31
“The Rumour” 12″ 6:36

Olivia Newton-John – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 7–10)
Elton John – digital piano (1), backing vocals (1)
James Newton Howard – additional keyboards (1), additional synthesizers (1), drum programming (1)
John Philip Shenale – keyboards (2, 4–10), programming (2, 4, 5, 7–10)
Bob Thiele Jr. – keyboards (2), programming (2)
Charles Giordano – keyboards (3)
John Sheard – keyboards (3)
John Capek – keyboards (4), programming (4), synthesizer arrangements (4)
Billy Meyers – string arrangements (4, 7), keyboards (7), programming (7)
Randy Goodrum – keyboards (5, 8), programming (5, 6, 8), arrangements (5)
Mark Heard – keyboards (7), programming (7), guitars (7)
Leon Ware – keyboards (8), programming (8), backing vocals (8)
David Ricketts – keyboards (9), programming (9)
Davey Johnstone – guitars (1)
Dann Huff – guitars (2)
Jerry Friedman – guitars (3)
Michael Landau – guitars (4–8)
Jimmy Rip – guitars (4, 6, 10)
Jef Scott – guitars (9, 10), backing vocals (10)
David Baerweld – guitars (9), bass guitar (9)
Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar (1)
Davey Faragher – bass guitar (2), backing vocals (2)
Jason Scheff – bass guitar (7, 8), backing vocals (7)
Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar (10)
Carlos Vega – drum overdubs (1)
Ed Greene – drums (2, 4–10)
Lenny Castro – percussion (1)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (4, 5, 7–10)
Kim Hutchcroft – baritone saxophone (1)
Gary Herbig – tenor saxophone (1)
Dan Higgins – tenor saxophone (1)
Gerald Albright – saxophone (6)
Lincoln Adler – saxophone (8)
Lew McCreary – trombone (1)
Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (1)
Gary Grant – trumpet (1)
Jerry Hey – trumpet (1)
Chuck Findley – trumpet (6, 10)
Tommy Morgan – harmonica (6)
Bruce Roberts – backing vocals (1)
Janis Liebhart – backing vocals (2)
Davitt Sigerson – backing vocals (2, 10)
Amy Sky – backing vocals (4, 10)
Tom Keane – backing vocals (7)
Julia Waters Tillman – backing vocals (9)
Luther Waters – backing vocals (9)
Maxine Waters Willard – backing vocals (9)
Oren Waters – backing vocals (9)
Ned Albright – backing vocals (10)
Steven Soles – backing vocals (10)

Monday 8/8/22 10pm ET: Feature LP: Olivia Newton-John – Soul Kiss (1985)

Soul Kiss is the twelfth studio album by English-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, which was released on October 25, 1985. It made No. 11 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and the Top 30 on the United States Billboard 200. The album was produced by long-time associate John Farrar, who also co-wrote four tracks; the cover art includes photography of Newton-John by Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts.

“Toughen Up” 3:51
“Soul Kiss” 4:32
“Queen of the Publication” 3:55
“Emotional Tangle” 4:05
“Culture Shock” 3:52
“Moth to a Flame” 3:46
“Overnight Observation” 4:27
“You Were Great, How Was I?” (duet with Carl Wilson) 3:46
“Driving Music” 3:41
“The Right Moment” 3:44

Olivia Newton-John – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 9), vocoder (10)
Marcus Ryle – synthesizers (1, 3–6, 8–10)
Greg Phillinganes – synthesizers (2)
Mark Goldenberg – synthesizers (2)
Billy Thorpe – synthesizers (4)
Steve Kipner – synthesizers (5)
Tom Snow – synthesizers (7, 8)
John Farrar – guitar (1–3, 6, 7, 9), backing vocals (1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11), Synclavier (2–4, 6, 7, 9), vocoder (4, 9), mandolin (11)
Lee Ritenour – guitar (1, 3, 4, 6–9)
Larry Carlton – guitar (2)
Michael Landau – guitar (10)
Steve Lukather – guitar (3)
Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar (1)
Nathan East – bass guitar (4)
Carlos Vega – drums (1, 3, 4, 6–10)
Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (2)
Geoffrey Hales – electronic drums (7)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 4)
Michael Fisher – percussion (2), typewriter effects (3)
Jeremy Lubbock – strings arrangements (4, 11), keyboards (11)
Gerard Vinci – concertmaster (4, 11)
Tom Scott – lyricon (7), saxophone (8, 10)
Gary Herbig – saxophone (10)
Joel Peskin – saxophone (10)
Larry Williams – saxophone (10)
Ara Tokatlián – pan flute (11)
Katey Sagal – backing vocals (2)
Christopher Cross – backing vocals (8)
Carl Wilson – lead and backing vocals (8)

In Memoriam: Olivia Newton-john (1948 – 2022)

Dame Olivia Newton-John AC DBE (September 26, 1948 – August 8, 2022) was a British-born Australian singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and activist. She was a four-time Grammy Award and 14 of her albums (including two Platinum and four 2× Platinum) have been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). With global sales of more than 100 million records, Newton-John is one of the best-selling music artists from the second half of the 20th century to the present.

In 1978, she starred in the musical film Grease, whose soundtrack remains one of the world’s best-selling albums of recorded music. It features two major hit duets with co-star John Travolta: “You’re the One That I Want” – which ranks as one of the best-selling singles of all time – and “Summer Nights”. Her signature solo recordings include the Record of the Year Grammy winner “I Honestly Love You” (1974) and “Physical” (1981) – Billboard’s Top Hot 100 Single of the 1980s – plus her cover of “If Not for You” (1971), “Let Me Be There” (1973), “If You Love Me (Let Me Know)” (1974), “Have You Never Been Mellow” (1975), “Sam” (1977), “Hopelessly Devoted to You” (also from Grease), “A Little More Love” (1978) and, from the 1980 film Xanadu, “Magic” and “Xanadu” (with Electric Light Orchestra). Plus “Heart Attack” (1982) and “Twist of Fate” (from the 1983 film Two of a Kind).

Newton-John was an activist for environmental and animal rights issues.

In May 2017, it was announced that Newton-John’s breast cancer had returned and metastasized to her lower back Her back pains had initially been misdiagnosed as sciatica.

Newton-John subsequently revealed this was actually her third bout with breast cancer, as she had privately battled a recurrence of the disease in 2013 in addition to her initial 1992 fight. With the 2017 recurrence the cancer had spread to her bones and progressed to stage IV.

Newton-John experienced a great deal of pain from the metastatic bone lesions and had openly spoken of using cannabis oil to ease her pain. She was an advocate for the use of medical cannabis. Her daughter Chloe owns a cannabis farm in Oregon.

She died on August 8, 2022 at her home in California.

Monday 1/10/22 4pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1981 (by title) A to Z – Part 5

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1981 A2Z.

We complete letter E and start F. We feature music from: Stevie Nicks, Oak Ridge Boys, Elton John, AC/DC, Michael Stanley Band, Olivia Newton-john, Meat Loaf, Whispers, David Bowie, Haircut 100, Rolling Stones, Jefferson Starship, Triumph and many more. . .

4pm to 7pm ET

Friday 1/7/22 3pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1981 (by title) A to Z – Part 4

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1981 A2Z.

We continue with letter D. We feature music from: Frankie Smith, Men At Work, Robbie Paton, Phil Collins, Bill Squier, Little River Band, Replacements, Cars, Steve Winwood, Depeche Mode, Kim Carnes, Humble Pie and many more. . .

3pm to 6pm ET

Friday 1/7/22 1pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 9

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with the completion of letter K and start with L and feature music from: David Bowie, Temptations, Edward Bear, Independents, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Paul Simon, Olivia Newton-john, Shocking Blue, Brownsville Station, Three Dog Night, Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose and many more.

1pm to 3pm ET

Thursday 1/6/22 6pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1981 (by title) A to Z – Part 3 Extended Edition

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1981 A2Z.

We continue with letter B and go the start of Letter C. We feature music from: Eddy Grant, Tanya Tucker, Kim Wilde, Olivia Newton-john, Sammi Smith, Adam Ant, Elvis Costello, April Wine, Kim Carnes, Quarterflash, Ozzy Osbourne, Men At Work, Kiss, Falco, Kinks and many more. . .

6pm to 12am ET

Monday 12/20/21 1am ET: Feature LP: Olivia Newton-john – Physical (1981)

Physical is the eleventh studio album by English Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released on October 13, 1981 by MCA Records. The album was produced and partly written by her long-time record producer John Farrar. Recorded and mixed at Ocean Way and David J. Holman’s studio in Los Angeles, California, Physical became one of Newton-John’s most controversial and sexual records, and her most successful studio album to date. Musically, the album features considerable use of synthesizers and it explores lyrical themes such as love and relationships, sex, kinesthetics and environmental protection. Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from music critics, many of them considering it to be Newton-John’s best effort. The album charted high in several countries, including the United States, Japan and Newton-John’s native Australia, becoming one of the most successful albums of the early 1980s. It also ranks among the best-selling albums by Australian solo artists, selling more than ten million copies worldwide.

The album’s title track was a commercial phenomenon, staying 10 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, at the time tying the record set by Debby Boone’s 1977 single “You Light Up My Life”. The song and its music video were controversial, having been banned or edited by several radio stations and television channels (such as MTV) for its sexual references. The single was followed by “Make a Move on Me”, another top-ten worldwide hit. “Landslide”, which failed to enter the majority of musical charts, had a music video featuring Newton-John’s boyfriend (and later husband) Matt Lattanzi, to whom she had dedicated the album. A video compilation, Olivia Physical, was produced, featuring music videos of all songs from the album. The material was a commercial and critical success, and earned Newton-John a Grammy Award for Video of the Year.

The album was promoted with Newton-John’s 1982 North American Physical Tour, performances from which a home video entitled Olivia in Concert was produced. The Physical era marked the height of Newton-John’s solo career, gaining her wide acclaim as one of the most successful female artists of the early 1980s.

1. “Landslide” 4:27
2. “Stranger’s Touch” 3:49
3. “Make a Move on Me” 3:17
4. “Falling” 3:45
5. “Love Make Me Strong” 3:10
6. “Physical” 3:44
7. “Silvery Rain” 3:39
8. “Carried Away” 3:42
9. “Recovery” 4:18
10. “The Promise (The Dolphin Song)” 4:32
11. “Heart Attack” 3:06
12. “Tied Up” 4:21
13. “Twist of Fate” 3:44
14. “(Livin’ in) Desperate Times” 4:03
15. “Physical” (Long Version) 7:05

Olivia Newton-John – lead and backing vocals
John Farrar – guitar (1-10), vocoder (1, 2), bass guitar (1-5, 8, 9, 10), backing vocals (2-9), keyboards (3), synthesizers (3, 7)
Steve Lukather – guitar solo (6), acoustic guitar (8)
Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10), acoustic piano (5), vocoder (5), PPG Wave 2 (8)
Tom Snow – sequencer (3, 9), acoustic piano (8)
Bill Cuomo – synthesizers (4, 6)
John Hobbs – Fender Rhodes (8), synthesizers (8)
David Hungate – bass guitar (6)
Carlos Vega – drums (1, 2, 3, 5-8, 10), timpani (1), percussion (5, 6)
Mike Botts – cymbal (4), percussion (7), drums (9)
Lenny Castro – percussion (6, 9)
Victor Feldman – marimba (9)
Gary Herbig – French horn (6)

Friday 9/24/21 12pm ET: Artist Countdown: Olivia Newton-john Top 30 Hits

Dame Olivia Newton-John AC DBE (born September 26, 1948) is a British-Australian singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and activist. She is a four-time Grammy Award winner whose chart career includes five US number ones and another ten Top Tens on Billboard’s Hot 100 and two Billboard 200 number-one albums, If You Love Me, Let Me Know (1974) and Have You Never Been Mellow (1975). Eleven of her singles (including two platinum) and 14 of her albums (including two platinum and four 2× platinum) have been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Newton-John has released Seventy-four singles, seven featured artist and eighteen promotional recordings. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five number-one and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, seven Top Ten Billboard Hot Country singles, and two number-one Billboard 200 solo albums. Ten of her singles have topped Billboard’s adult contemporary music singles chart; only five acts have had more number ones. Eleven of her singles (including two platinum) and fourteen of her albums (including two platinum and four double platinum) have been certified gold by the RIAA. She has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. She starred in Grease, which featured one of the most successful soundtracks in Hollywood history.

1	Xanadu (with Electric Light Orchestra)	1980
2	A Little More Love	1978
3	You’re the One That I Want (with John Travolta)	1978
4	Hopelessly Devoted to You	1978
5	Summer Nights (with John Travolta)	1978
6	Physical	1981
7	Magic	1980
8	The Grease Megamix (with John Travolta)	1990
9	Heart Attack	1982
10	Make a Move on Me	1982
11	Sam	1977
12	Twist of Fate	1983
13	Have You Never Been Mellow	1975
14	I Honestly Love You	1974
15	If You Love Me (Let Me Know)	1974
16	Please Mr. Please	1975
17	If Not for You	1971
18	Come On Over	1976
19	Suddenly (with Cliff Richard)	1980
20	Deeper Than the Night	1979
21	Something Better to Do	1975
22	Let Me Be There	1973
23	Don’t Stop Believin’	1976
24	Banks of the Ohio	1971
25	Soul Kiss	1985
26	The Rumour (with Elton John)	1988
27	Let It Shine	1975
28	I Can’t Help It  (with Andy Gibb)	1980
29	Landslide	1982
30	Every Face Tells a Story	1976

Monday 9/6/21 3pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

1970-1979

Monday 8/30/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

Featuring the Ladies of the 70’s

Monday 5/10/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

This week we feature music from Doobie Brothers (Spotlight Artist), Minnie Ripperton, Diana Ross, Olivia Newton-john, Peter Frampton, Barry Manilow, McFadden & Whitehead, Van McCoy, Neil Diamond, Billy Ocean and featuring extended program.

Thursday 4/1/21 1am ET: Feature LP: Barry Gibb – Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1

Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 is the third solo album by British-American singer-songwriter Barry Gibb, which was released on January 8, 2021 by Capitol Records in America and EMI Records internationally. The album features re-imaginings of songs written by the Bee Gees with country music singers. The album’s title is taken from a lyric in the song “Butterfly”.

At 74 years, 4 months and 17 days old, Gibb became the oldest artist to peak at number 1 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart.

1. “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” Keith Urban 3:15
2. “Words of a Fool” Jason Isbell 3:48
3. “Run to Me” Brandi Carlile 3:22
4. “Too Much Heaven” Alison Krauss 3:40
5. “Lonely Days” Little Big Town 3:44
6. “Words” Dolly Parton 3:12
7. “Jive Talkin'” Miranda Lambert and Jay Buchanan 3:58
8. “How Deep Is Your Love” Little Big Town and Tommy Emmanuel 4:26
9. “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” Sheryl Crow 3:26
10. “To Love Somebody” Jay Buchanan 3:55
11. “Rest Your Love on Me” Olivia Newton-John 4:02
12. “Butterfly” David Rawlings and Gillian Welch 3:43